West Bengal lawmakers pass Gorkha bill

Kolkata: West Bengal’s lawmakers on Friday passed the Gorkha Territorial Administration Bill 2011, paving the way for granting the native Gorkhas more autonomy in administration. This follows a tripartite accord signed last month between the Gorkhas, the state and the Centre.

The bill included 58 changes, of which 54 were demanded by the ruling Trinamool Congress, and the rest by the Left parties.

The state government accommodated most of the demands made by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), the key political group leading the Gorkhas.

In line with GJM’s demands, the state government has agreed to offer the Gorkha Territorial Authority (GTA) financial powers and recognise the ethnic identity of the Gorkhas.

“I want the GTA to take care of all (and not just the Gorkhas),” chief minister Mamata Banerjee said.